Two-way toggle actuated mechanism

ABSTRACT

This two-way toggle mechanism is shown for use in providing stepped increments of rotation of a wheel or the like in either of two rotary directions as desired. It comprises a mount on which the wheel or the like is mounted and on which a two-way toggle is pivotally mounted. The toggle is connected by linkage means to an escapement-like member which is also pivotally mounted. It has two arms curved toward one another which engage projections located on one side of the wheel. Movement of the escapement moves the wheel incrementally in a direction depending upon the direction of the movement of the toggle.

" TFF'I'FWIUL 15 ms SHEET CIRCUIT NTEGRATED H P-55mm 15 ms 8 95. 3 79SHEET 2 FIG.3

FIG. 4

1 TWO-WAY TOGGLE ACTUATED MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fieldof the Invention This invention relates to a mechanism for moving arotary member such as a wheel in either of two opposite rotarydirections in step-wise fashion and in particular to such a mechanismfor use in a timing or counting device.

2. Prior Art Toggle-actuated mechanisms which rotate, step-wise, a wheelor disc in a single direction are known and, in fact, are the subjectmatter of US. Pat. No. 3.8 l 3,668, issued May 28, 1974 to Donald Ross.In a counting or timing mechanism of the type described in the latterpatent which actuates an alarm or switch at the end of a predeterminedcount or time, it is often useful during the cycle of operation toincrease or decrease the number to be counted or the interval of time tobe measured. Hitherto, mechanisms were provided for increasing the countby moving a toggle in a single direction to rotate one or more of thenumber wheels or discs forward a desired number of steps. However, inorder to reduce the count, it was necessary to move the unidirectionaltoggle for each number wheel or disc ahead and through the highest digitin order to reach a digit lower than the one originally set. This provedtroublesome and unnecessarily time-consuming. Time is often importantwhen it is desired to change the length of a timing cycle which has beenset for a predetermined number of seconds. Such other two-way toggles asare known are relatively expensive to make and subject to mechanicalfailure.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide atwo-way toggle-actuated mechanism for incrementally rotating a wheel,disc or the like in either rotary direction, especially one which isrelatively inexpensive to make and free from undue mechanicalbreakdowns.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A two-way toggle-actuated mechanism formoving a wheel or the like step-wise comprising a mounting means onwhich a wheel or the like is mounted for rotary movement. Apivotally-mounted toggle which can be stroked in either of two oppositedirections is connected by linkage to a pivotally mounted escapementmember which engages projections formed on one side of the wheel.Movement of the toggle in one direction causes a corresponding pivotalmovement of said escapement member which causes said wheel to move onestep in a predetermined rotary direction. Movement of the toggle in theopposite direction causes opposite rotary movement of the wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective andschematic view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toggleactuated mechanismshown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the other side;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the wheel, the escapementmember, the linkage and the two-way toggle portions of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part of the invention shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the mechanism of FIG. 1when the toggle is depressed thereby causing the wheel to be rotated onestep in the counterclockwise direction;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary. perspective view of the mechanism shown in FIG.1 when the toggle is raised thereby causing the wheel to move clockwiseone step;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the apparatus shown inFIG. 5 with some parts omitted to clarify the operation of the partsbehind them; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the escapementlike member in accordancewith the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. I, there isshown a two-way toggle mechanism 10 constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. It comprises a mounting means 13 made of anappropriate plastic or other material having a horizontal shaft 13amolded thereon which extends laterally from the interior to support anumber wheel 14 or the like for rotary movement thereupon. A toggle I5is pivotally mounted on another, smaller, laterallyprojecting shaft 13bmolded on said mounting means l3.

An escapement member 27 is also mounted on a laterally projectingtubular shaft 22. The escapement 27 has two facing curved arms 27a and27b which engage, successively, the raised projections 14!) formed onone side of the wheel 14. Depending upon whether the toggle 15 isstroked downward or upward, the movement of the curved arms 27a and 27!)will cause the wheel l4 to rotate incrementally either in the clockwiseor counter-clockwise direction.

Associated with the side of the wheel 14 opposite the side on which theprojections 1411 are located is a decimal-binary switching means whichis not part of the present invention but which is fully described in theaforementioned patent. It is briefly described to show a typicalenvironment in which the present invention has found great utility. Itconverts each rotary step of the wheel I4 to a different positioning ofthe elongated conductors 16 relative to the generally U-shaped conductor170. Each different position corresponds to a representation of a binarydigit and, in conjunction with the integrated circuit 11 connectedthereto. together with the voltage supply 12, produces an electricalsignal representative of the binary digit for application to anappropriate circuit (not shown).

DOWNWARD TOGGLE STROKE OPERATION The mechanism and operation of thetwo-way toggle will now be described in greater detail. When the toggleportion is stroked downwardly as shown in FIG. 5, the rear toggleportion 15d, which is integrally molded therewith pivots upward. It isconnected to a linkage member 18 which may be made of metal or the like,and which is generally L-shaped. The leg portion of the linkage member18 is provided with a generally elliptical perforation 18a through whichthe terminal portion 150 of the toggle, which has a generally hat-shapedconfiguration, is passed. The position of the portion 15c relative tothe angle of the axis of the aperture 18a is such as to keep the portion15d always coupled with the member 18.

When the toggle is not being stroked, the escapement arms 27a and 27bhave their extremities straddling the projection 14b of the wheel 14which would be located at the 3 oclock" position when viewed from theside as seen in FIG. 2. Movement of the toggle portion a downward causesthe L-shaped linkage member 18 to move upward and to assume a morevertical position relative to the horizontal. The upper end of themember 18 has a round aperture through which the shaftlike projection27d of the escapement 27 is passed. Therefore, the escapement is movedpivotally in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 7against the bias exerted by the spring on the upper pivoting member 21which bears against the shaft 27d of the escapement. The arm 27a movescounterclockwise and rides up the segment 13m as the lower arm 27bpropels the wheel 14 counter-clockwise by pressure upward against thelower edge of the particular projection 14b that had just previouslybeen in the 3 o'clock position. This counter-clockwise movementcontinues to the end of the down stroke. Then the end of the lowerresilient detent finger 1311, which is inte grally molded into mountingstructure 13 in opening 13 and is normally biassed in the direction ofthe wheel 14, snaps into the one of the lands 14c which has come intothe 6 oclock position. Finger 1311 has at its end a curved boss orprotuberance 13i which snaps into the land 14c then in the 6 oclockposition. Simultaneously, the boss (not shown) at the end of the otherdetent finger 13g snaps into the 12 o'clock" land Me.

When the toggle 15a is then released, it is restored to its restposition by the downward pressure of the upper pivoting member 21 on theshaft 27d by virtue of the decompression of spring 25. Spring 25 isconnected between the free ends of members 21 and 23, the latters edgeresting against horizontal portion 13f. As the member 21 is pulled downit moves the escapement 27 clockwise whose upper arm 27a slides offsegment 13m into the land 140 which is just above the projection 14bthen in the 3 oclock position (as viewed in FIG. 2.). The lower arm 27bmeanwhile slips over the lower edge of that 3 o'clock" projection 14b.At the toggle neutral or rest position. as stated above, the extremitiesof the arms 27a and 27b are positioned in the lands 14c on either sideof the 3 o'clock" projection 14b. The downward movement of the member 21is limited by the upper surface of the horizontal portion 13f.

UPPER TOGGLE STROKE OPERATION When the toggle is moved upward as shownin FIG. 6, the toggle portion 15d pivots counter-clockwise (as seen inFIG. 6) thereby pulling down the L-shaped linkage member 29, and causingescapement 27 to pivot clockwise. As the escapement 27 rotates clockwisethe extremity of the arm 27a bears down against the upper edge of thewheel projection 14b then in the 3 o'clock position and propels itdownward until the bosses of the two flexible detent fingers 13g and1311 respectively engage the next diametrically opposed rectangularlands now located at the l2 oclock and 6 oclock positions whereupon thewheel 14 has been advanced one step. Meanwhile the extremity of thelower arm 27!) has been flexed upward (toward the reader as seen in FIG.7) as it passes onto the lower elevated segment 13n. At the same time.clockwise movement of the projection 27d of the escapement causes thelower pivoting member 23 to pivot clockwise thereby extending the spring25 which is connected between its free end and the free end of upperpivoting member 21.

On release of the toggle 15, the decompression of the spring 25 pulls upthe lower pivoting member 23 which nudges projection 27d of theescapement 27 counterclockwise until the extremity of the arm 27b slidesinto the land 14c just below the 3 oclock" projection 14b and theextremity of the upper arm 27a slides into the next higher land so thatthey straddle the 3 oclock" projection. As seen in FIG. 2, when thetoggle is at rest, the two members 21 and 23 help to fix the position ofthe escapement 27 (and the wheel) by simultaneously exerting downwardand upward pressure respectively on the projection 27d. The angledportions 15e and 15f serve as limits to the pivotal movement of thetoggle in the respective up and down strokes of the latter.

As the wheel 14 is rotated to the desired setting position theconductive portions 16a, which are biassed toward the wheel, engagehigher or lower peaks" or valleys" in the concentric grooves Me. Thiscauses the conductors 16, which are anchored toward their lower endswithin their respective channels 13c formed in mounting structure 13 bypin 19, to move correspondingly into or out of engagement with portionof the U-shaped conductor 17 in the same manner as explained in theabove-mentioned patent. The pin 19 passes through a horizontal groove13d formed in the structure 13 and to the left of the bent portions 16bthat pass through apertures in the channels 13c into the adjacent groove13d.

TOGGLE LOCK OPERATION It is often desirable to provide a mechanism forlocking the toggle to prevent alteration of the setting of the timer.Toward this end a locking plate 30 is provided having a thicknesssomewhat smaller than the width of the notch 15b of the toggle. Plate 30can move laterally within its own plane when propelled by correspondingmovement of pins 31 that may be linked to a cylindrical key-operatedmechanism (not shown) for example. The pins 31 pass through apertures30a in the plate 30. At its upper edge plate 30 has trapezoidal teeth30b, 30c, 30d, 30n. Tooth 30b fits in notch 15b when plate 30 has beenmoved to the locking position. Teeth 30c, 30d, 30n fit intocorresponding notches 15b in the next adjacent toggle actuated wheelsetting mechanisms (not shown) used to set the other digits in the otherplaces of the number.

Still other modifications, which do not depart from the essence of thepresent invention, will occur to those skilled in the art upon perusalof the description and drawings herein. Consequently, this inventionshould be limited by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanism for moving a wheel or the like stepwise in either of twoopposed rotary directions comprising:

a. mounting means.

b. a wheel mounted for rotary movement on said mounting means,

c. manually operable means pivotally mounted on said mounting means formovement in either of two opposed directions.

(I. an escapement pivotally mounted on said mounting means and engagingone lateral surface of said wheel.

e. linkage means connected between said escapement and said manuallyoperable means for transmitting movement of said manually operable meansin one direction to said escapement and transmitting movement of saidmanually operable means in a second and opposite direction to acorresponding opposite movement of said escapement, said escapementmovements also causing corresponding movements of said wheel.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said manually operablemeans is a toggle. wherein said wheel has a plurality of spacedprojections on one side thereof and wherein said escapement has two armswhich engage said projections to move said wheel one step at a time.

3. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein means are provided torestore said toggle to a neutral position after each stroke.

4. The mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said restoring meanscomprise upper and lower pivoting arms which bear upon said escapementin opposite directions.

5. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said manually operablemeans is a toggle having a portion thereof which cooperates with amovable member to prevent stroking of said toggle.

6. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said projections areradially disposed on said side of said wheel, wherein said escapementhas two oppositelycurved flexible arms which propel said wheel bypushing against the edges of said projections and wherein said mountingmeans urges the extremity of one of said arms away from said wheelduring a toggle stroke while the extremity of the other curved arm ispushing said edge of said projection to rotate said wheel.

7. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said mounting meansincludes detent means which releasably engage the lands between saidprojections to substantially immobilize said wheel after each stroke ofsaid toggle.

8. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said mounting meansincludes a plurality of channels for engaging a corresponding pluralityof conductive means and a groove adjacent said channels, said groovebeing in communication with said channels by means of apertures formedin the latter, said conductive members having portions thereof passingthrough said apertures into said groove.

9. The mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said upper and lowerpivoting arms are respectively connected at one end to a portion of saidmounting means and wherein said escapement has a shaft-like projectionon which the inner edges of said arms bear in the neutral position ofthe toggle.

10. The mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said detent meanscomprises two diametrically opposed resilient fingers integrally formedin said mounting means, each of said fingers having a boss at one endthereof which engage diametrically opposite lands in said wheel.

11. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said toggle has surfacesthereof which cooperate with said mounting means to limit the stroke ofsaid toggle.

1. A mechanism for moving a wheel or the like step-wise in either of twoopposed rotary directions comprising: a. mounting means, b. a wheelmounted for rotary movement on said mounting means, c. manually operablemeans pivotally mounted on said mounting means for movement in either oftwo opposed directions, d. an escapement pivotally mounted on saidmounting means and engaging one lateral surface of said wheel, e.linkage means connected between said escapement and said manuallyoperable means for transmitting movement of said manually operable meansin one direction to said escapement and transmitting movement of saidmanually operable means in a second and opposite direction to acorresponding opposite movement of said escapement, said escapementmovements also causing corresponding movements of said wheel.
 2. Themechanism according to claim 1 wherein said manually operable means is atoggle, wherein said wheel has a plurality of spaced projections on oneside thereof and wherein said escapement has two arms which engage saidprojections to move said wheel one step at a time.
 3. The mechanismaccording to claim 2 wherein means are provided to restore said toggleto a neutral position after each stroke.
 4. The mechanism according toclaim 3 wherein said restoring means comprise upper and lower pivotingarms which bear upon said escapement in opposite directions.
 5. Themechanism according to claim 1 wherein said manually operable means is atoggle having a portion thereof which cooperates with a movable memberto prevent stroking of said toggle.
 6. The mechanism according to claim2 wherein said projections are radially disposed on said side of saidwheel, wherein said escapement has two oppositely-curved flexible armswhich propel said wheel by pushing against the edges of said projectionsand wherein said mounting means urges the extremity of one of said armsaway from said wheel durIng a toggle stroke while the extremity of theother curved arm is pushing said edge of said projection to rotate saidwheel.
 7. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said mounting meansincludes detent means which releasably engage the lands between saidprojections to substantially immobilize said wheel after each stroke ofsaid toggle.
 8. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said mountingmeans includes a plurality of channels for engaging a correspondingplurality of conductive means and a groove adjacent said channels, saidgroove being in communication with said channels by means of aperturesformed in the latter, said conductive members having portions thereofpassing through said apertures into said groove.
 9. The mechanismaccording to claim 4 wherein said upper and lower pivoting arms arerespectively connected at one end to a portion of said mounting meansand wherein said escapement has a shaft-like projection on which theinner edges of said arms bear in the neutral position of the toggle. 10.The mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said detent means comprisestwo diametrically opposed resilient fingers integrally formed in saidmounting means, each of said fingers having a boss at one end thereofwhich engage diametrically opposite lands in said wheel.
 11. Themechanism according to claim 2 wherein said toggle has surfaces thereofwhich cooperate with said mounting means to limit the stroke of saidtoggle.